Beer: Reviews & Ratings

A fantastic offering from those at Thurn Und Taxis, consumed vom Fass during my trip to Bavaria in September of 2006 after a run to a local Bier store.

This was my second foray into the world of Roggenbier, the first being this very Bier vom Fass in Regensburg. Deep and rich in color, the light beige head left whisps of lace along the side of my 0.5L glass, but not to the extent of the vom Fass version. The appearance was intriguing with definite suspension of yeasties in the rich, almost black brew. Aromas were fragrant, and well balanced - clear notes of fruit with a solid rye back bone. The flavor followed suit, and was uncloying. I expected something overly rich and heavy, but this was surprisingly smooth and easily drinkable. Definate notes of pumpernickel-type breadiness in the nose and on the palate. A wonderful find, to say the least.

We were in Regensburg and the women were doing a little shopping. I spied a courtyard entrance with a Roggen sign next to it so I told them to find me inside. There was a shaded courtyard with a fountain and I plopped myself down and ordered one. It came in the prettiest 1/2 liter goblet (which you can see on the T & T website) and made this beer all the more enjoyable. Very dark ruby in the glass with a generous head which eventually faded away to a tawny ring. There were nice banana and clove smells. Even with the full body, this beer was a little drier than I expected. I took my time with this one, enjoying the a lingering finish. I'd have liked to have tried another but had to move on! A wonderful beer drinking memory. (732 characters)

I went to Munich and was hunting for this style specifically. I found it at an Italian restaurant of all places, Berni's Im Tal for anyone interested. This arrived in the special Thurn & Taxis roggen goblet and had all of the regalia of a Belgian beer. It's a cloudy reddish amber that looks a little like a red-tinged dunkel-weiss. The head is more of a 1/4" sheen than a full blown head.The smell of cloves, banana, pears, and a little cocoa come through up-front. So far, it's just like a dunkel-weiss.The flavor changes all of that. Up front there's a sour hit that reminds me a little of a Belgian brown ale...but it's gone in a flash. Then the fruity wheat beer flavors kick in. The finish has a little bit of a peppery spice that's memorable and encourages the next sip. Not bad at all! It's reminds me of a Bavarian wheat beer with hints of a Belgian oud bruin. The texture and drinkability are similar to a wheat beer, which is obviously a good thing.Refreshing with lots of flavor. It paired wonderfully with my Neapolitan pizza, too.It's a style I hope to revisit someday, although this beer and the Paulaner version (rumored to be identical?) are the only common examples. (1,191 characters)

Hazy, very dark-orange-honey color with a huge, tannish rocky head that drops shortly after pouring but leaves an excellent collar and some good lace. Unusual aroma - a citrusy "weizen-like" character, along with some "mintiness" (I assume from rye). The body is medium-light with a high level of carbonation that gives a zest on the tongue and a drying, grainy mouthfeel. The flavor is more subdued that might be expected, starting with a crisp bitterness, showing some smoky chararacter and spiciness along with some softly sweet fruit notes as it crosses the palate, and finishing dry and clean. There's a lot of complexity here but it's not readily apparent. (663 characters)

16.9 oz dark brown bottle. Freshness date on label.Served in a 20oz nonic tumbler.It pours a cola-shaded dark amber color with a fast-foaming, yet fast-fading off-white head. Some sticky and webby lacing last halfway through the glass.The aroma is at first wet malty, then the smell of rye crackers push through. The light smell of mixed fruit with a little citrus and dried flowers fades in and out. A faint whiff of white rum is noticed, as is a little fresh cut grass.Tastes of fresh rye, dried malt, caramel, figs, peppery spices, ripe pear and resinous hops (in that order) come through separate, yet balanced nicely. Just a touch of metallic tang is revealed in the aftertaste. A hint of dark rum comes out in the breath.This a is very nice summertime beer. It starts out dry in the finish, then more full and wet as it warms.Great BBQ beer! (853 characters)

Cola black with a nice pearly, champagne coloured head that rises above the lip of the glass like bread, but then collapses like soufflé. Nicely layered aroma with chocolate and raisins coupling with honey and rye. Flavour is similar, lightly fruity and full of earthy, bready rye flavor. Nuances of cherry, banana bread, and walnuts appear as well. Dry and somewhat fizzy, and ultimately quite interesting and drinkable. (422 characters)

Thurn und Taxis Roggen is best served at proper cellar temperatures (50-55F) from a standard weizen glass or pilsner. This Roggenbier pours up very lively with ample carbonation which creates an inviting creamy white head that sits atop the murky copperish-brown body. The aroma is zesty with lots spicy phenolics (e.g. allspice, cloves & cinnamon sticks) and ripe fruity esters (e.g. bruised bananas, soft red plums & blood oranges). The typical weizen character is prevalent, but there's also a distinctive underlying rye breadiness along with some Noble hop flower notes. The flavor starts slighty yeasty and rather spicy (i.e. caraway seeds, fresh ground cloves, candied ginger) then gives into some fresh rye breadiness that carries a definable burnt caramel/toffee character. The bitter finish is slightly dry and acidic with hints of stone fruit astringency. This medium-full bodied specialty is often refered to as a Hefe-Ryzen and rightly so, as malted rye typically constitutes 50% or greater of the grist (some versions have upwards of 60-65% rye) such as this one. This one is not quite as complex as the original Schierlinger version, but a valiant effort nonetheless! Suggested pairings include a simple Pastrami on rye, a traditional BLT (Bacon Butty) served with fresh stone ground mustard or a classic Reuben (of course!) with a side order of Pommes frites (French fries/chips) and a Kosher pickle spear. Here's to the Regal Roggenbier of Regensburg!

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color and poured with a finger high white head that died down rather quickly. A slight amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.S: There are light aromas of caramel and toasted malts in the nose along with some notes of spices. Malty flavors stand out but there are also some hints of spices and sourness from the rye.T: The overall taste has a slight amount of sweetness and some notes of caramel.M: It feels medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate and has a light to moderate amount of carbonation. There is some dryness in the finish.D: The beer is very easy to drink and quite sessionable. (652 characters)

The aroma is a lot like a wheat beer, with mainly fruity esters, though some interesting spice in the background.

Good malt complexity, though not necessarily suggestive of rye (Roggen). Drinks very much like a Dunkelweizen, actually, but with even more malt flavor. Bread crusts, light chocolate. The carbonation is very effervescent but soft, the moutfeel overall a bit watery.

Nothing too exciting here. I'm glad I found this Roggen, though I was expecting something with more spicy rye flavor. (734 characters)

A - very nice dark red and amberS - very nice and fresh banana, vanilla and cloveT - starts with pretty high carbonation, which provides a nice enter to banana and vanilla with well-balanced bitternesM - medium to high carbonation with medium bodyD - pretty fresh and drinkable, especially in summer season (310 characters)

Smell is caramellic with light chocolate whiffs. I do not smell anything that reminds me of oats (roggen). It does smell different than the typical German top fermented beers.

Taste is caramellic with a clean yeast profile. There is no bitter and body is thin, which takes away the attention of the nice taste. Again I do not get any roggen, maybe a little oiliness, but this just guessing, I want to believe... Mouthfeel is velvet smooth. The thin body is a real turndown, every sip starts out good untill I swallow and find very little body and aftertaste. (605 characters)

Caramel color, with two fingers of beige foam.Caramel in the smell, not too strong, rye notes, sugary in the back, malt and honey.Again a light caramel in the taste, with cereal notes, probably due to the rye, peppery and spicy notes. Not bad at all.Some candy sugar notes, surely from the malt. Anyway, pleasant and light.Good to drink.The body is for it quite light, with a pleasant caramel, spicy notes. On the sweet, but not heavy at all. (447 characters)

Pours a lightly hazy ochre brown, with a rather thick off white head. The head died out completely about halfway through the pint.
Aroma is mostly malty, a little rough, with a dash of hops. I guess that roughness is the rye? Smells a touch oxidized, with a slight wine-like air to it.
Aside from the winey flavor, which I assume shouldn't be there, it seemed like what a german lager style brown ale would be. Slight toasted malt character, with some rye rough-edgedness. Fairly clean and dry. Hops come through lightly in the finish, serving mostly to cut the sweetness of the malt. Carbonation is mild, particularly for a german style. Tasty, even though I think it was past it's prime. I'd definitely like to try this again when i know it's fresh. (753 characters)

Had high hopes for this when it was bought and a lot of preconceived notions of what I was getting myself into.

In the bottle this had a restrained and fairly deep rye aroma which is savoury and builds expectation. Easily pours a one and a half inch tight tan head. Crystal copper/reddish colour with a degree of orange sparkle.

Taste-well, lets just call it pretty hollow. So disappointingly little stuffing that it borders on anorexic. There is a slight trace of dark mealiness but in general it is just dominated by a flavour of bubble gum. Ends with a degree of sweeetness but it just lacks density, weight and substance. (627 characters)